Youths prepare for graduation from hands-on summer project

OROVILLE &GT;&GT; After weeks of hard work, teens involved in the Career Readiness Empowered Workforce program will receive their certificates of completion for the program and graduate July 31.

The 10-week program and collaboration between Feather River Recreation and Park District and Boys and Girls Clubs of the North Valley began last month to provide youths with real-world experience in parks and recreation. The participants, nine teens ages 15-17, have maintained a roundabout at Riverbend Park throughout the summer. Ann Willmann, general manager for the district, said the project gave parks the opportunity to have youths working and giving back to the community.

"I'm excited that they'll be able to drive into Riverbend and see the project," Willmann said.

She said the teens took pictures before and after they completed their work on the roundabout, and they are pleased with their work.

"It's exciting to hear them say, 'Hey, do you want to see the before and afters?'" Willmann said.

Rashell Mieko Brobst, chief executive officer of Boys and Girls Clubs of the North Valley, said seeing that this is the first collaboration between Boys and Girls Club and the FRRPD, the project has gone "amazingly well." She said going into it they didn't know what to expect from putting teens out in the sun during the summer and pushing them out of their comfort zone to work in landscape and do grounds work, but all of the participants responded well and have been grateful for the opportunity.

Willmann said as the summer program comes to a close, they have already begun talking about next year, and she hopes in the future they can incorporate more education about the different tasks in which the youths are involved so they get a well-rounded understanding of their summer project.

Brobst said she hopes because of this year's success that next year Paradise Recreation and Park District will start a CREW of their own.

Willmann said CREW members will receive their graduation certificates at Riverbend Park in front of their families, friends and donors where they can "show off their work."